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Herodotus · Histories §7.190.1

The Losses from the Storm and Fate of Ameinocles

Passage 1253 of 1577 · Greek

Summary

Describes the immense loss of ships and treasures caused by the storm, and the fortune of the Magnesian Ameinocles, who became extremely wealthy from the wreckage but suffered the personal tragedy of losing his children.

§7.190.1ἐν τούτῳ τῷ πόνῳ νέας οἳ ἐλαχίστας λέγουσι διαφθαρῆναι τετρακοσιέων οὐκ ἐλάσσονας, ἄνδρας τε ἀναριθμήτους χρημάτων τε πλῆθος ἄφθονον.
In this disaster, those who estimate the least say that no fewer than four hundred ships were destroyed, along with countless men and an infinite abundance of treasure.
ὥστε Ἀμεινοκλέι τῷ Κρητίνεω ἀνδρὶ Μάγνητι γηοχέοντι περὶ Σηπιάδα μεγάλως ἡ ναυηγίη αὕτη ἐγένετο χρηστή· ὃς πολλὰ μὲν χρύσεα ποτήρια ὑστέρῳ χρόνῳ ἐκβρασσόμενα ἀνείλετο πολλὰ δὲ ἀργύρεα, θησαυρούς τε τῶν Περσέων εὗρε, ἄλλα τε ἄφατα χρήματα περιεβάλετο.
Consequently, this shipwreck turned out to be a source of great profit to Ameinocles, son of Cretines, a Magnesian who owned land around Sepias; for in after times he picked up many gold and silver cups that were washed ashore, found Persian treasures, and acquired other untold wealth.
ἀλλʼ ὃ μὲν τἆλλα οὐκ εὐτυχέων εὑρήμασι μέγα πλούσιος ἐγένετο· ἦν γάρ τις καὶ τοῦτον ἄχαρις συμφορὴ λυπεῦσα παιδοφόνος.
Yet, although he became exceedingly rich through his findings, he was not fortunate in other respects; for a painful calamity, involving the death of his children, grieved him as well.

Notes

  1. §7.190.1οἳ ἐλαχίστας λέγουσι — The relative clause is introduced by the relative pronoun οἵ (nominative plural masculine), referring to an implied general subject ('people'). The superlative adjective ἐλαχίστας (accusative plural feminine) agrees with νέας. It literally means 'those who say the fewest [ships],' implying 'even those who make the lowest estimate.'
  2. §7.190.1τἆλλα — A crasis for τὰ ἄλλα, functioning as an accusative of respect (adverbial accusative) meaning 'in other respects.' It modifies the participle εὐτυχέων (present participle nominative singular masculine of εὐτυχέω, 'to be fortunate'), qualifying the state of the subject Ameinocles.
  3. §7.190.1παιδοφόνος — The adjective παιδοφόνος ('child-slaying') modifies the noun συμφορή ('calamity'). Rather than implying active murder, it is used here as a tragic epithet to mean 'bringing death to his children' or 'bereaving him of his children.'

Cite this passage

Herodotus, Histories §7.190.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.190.1

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